Green Card Must Leave US 2026: USCIS Memo May End Adjustment of Status for Most Applicants

A major USCIS policy memorandum issued on May 22, 2026 is sending shockwaves through the immigration community by potentially eliminating Adjustment of Status (AOS) as a pathway for most green card applicants currently living in the United States. Under the new guidance, the vast majority of employment-based and family-based applicants may be required to depart the US and complete their green card process through consular processing at a US embassy or consulate in their home country. For EB-3 applicants—including skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers—this shift represents a dramatic change in immigration strategy. Those who had filed or planned to file Form I-485 to adjust status while remaining in the US may now face the difficult prospect of leaving the country, potentially triggering bars to reentry depending on their prior unlawful presence history, and enduring unpredictable consular wait times abroad. The memo has been attributed to the Trump administration's broader crackdown on immigration enforcement and appears designed to reduce the backlog of pending AOS cases by redirecting applicants through the consular system. Critics, including immigration attorneys and advocacy organizations, warn that this policy shift could cause widespread chaos, separating families and leaving workers in legal limbo as employers lose key personnel. According to the analysis by Immigration Impact, only six specific groups may remain eligible to complete the green card process from within the United States under the new framework. These exceptions are expected to be narrowly defined, and most applicants currently in employment-based or family-based queues will not qualify. EB-3 applicants and their attorneys are urged to review their specific eligibility carefully before taking any action. Those with pending I-485 applications should consult with qualified immigration counsel immediately to assess the impact of this memo on their case and explore whether they fall within any of the remaining eligible categories.